Ramsay Newsroom
Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation collaborates on Australian-first breast milk study
September 06, 2023
Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation (RHRF), in collaboration with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, the University of Queensland and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), is excited to announce the establishment of a new project that has been successful in gaining funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council as a part of the 2022 Partnership Projects funding initiative.
The RHRF has awarded $720,000 in funding to support the project "Pasteurised donor human milk supplementation for term babies". This partnership aims to drive research dedicated to significantly improving outcomes for women and infants.
The research is being led by Associate Professor Jennifer Koplin from the University of Queensland's Child Health Research Centre and Dr Vanessa Clifford from MCRI. The research aims to evaluate short term supplementation of pasteurised donor human milk as a bridge to breastfeeding for term-born infants.
"This Australian-first research will answer questions about how donor milk should be used for term infants in Australia," A/Prof Koplin said.
The long-term health benefits of improving breastfeeding rates may counteract health problems that disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups across Australia – including infant morbidity and mortality, poorer metabolic health, and maternal breast cancer.
Nicola Ware, CEO of the Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation, highlighted the potential of this study in reshaping nutritional protocols for term-born infants across Ramsay Hospitals.
"If the proposed program of research demonstrates a benefit for donor human milk, this intervention could be rapidly implemented for the benefit of patients in Ramsay Hospitals," Ms Ware said.
"This will ultimately improve experience of patients and families who give birth at Ramsay."
Up to 40 per cent of term-born babies currently receive cow’s milk formula in the first week of life. Health outcomes for mothers and infants may be improved by use of pasteurised donor human milk instead of cow’s milk formula.
However, term-born infants currently do not have access to pasteurised donor human milk in Australia, due to lack of robust research evidence to support its use in infants born after 32 weeks gestation.
“The milk used in the trial will come from donations from mothers in Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide,” Dr Clifford said.
"This project allows us to continue listening and responding to patients and staff and keeping at the forefront of health care delivery."
The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Milk service supplies donated breast milk to preterm infants in 34 hospitals across Australia. If you’d like to learn more, or become a donor, please visit: https://www.lifeblood.com.au/milk
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